Australian censors Ban Dr Who
- Publication: Star Enquirer
- Date: 1984-05-16
- Author:
- Page: 8
- Language: English
AUSTRALIAN censors have scored a world first by holding up the popular "Dr Who" series because they think the last two segments are too violent, the English producer, John Nathan-Turner, says.
"I'm amazed — as are the principals in England — at this action. The BBC's policy allows us to be scary without terrorizing and we stick to this religiously.
"But the move by the Australian censors is beyond comprehension.
"The shows in question are those before the new Dr Who (Colin Baker) takes over, and while the last segment may be considered scary, one would hardly consider it violent enough for cuts, which is what I believe is happening.
"As it is, because of the hold-ups by the censors, the Australian public won't see these segments now until late June."
John Nathan-Turner was holidaying in Australia and attending a convention by the "Dr Who" Fan Club.
"These conventions are world-wide and in the United States they are quite amazing," he said. "At the Chicago convention recently, 10,000 people turned up and we had to turn about 3000 away. There were 16 such conventions in the USA last year.
"The show is now being sold in 54 countries with 110 million people watching it. There have been six doctors and 25 companions in the 20 years we have been running — the 24th companion was Australian actress Janet Fielding, of Brisbane.
"She was a companion for three years and she has just left to do something for a change.
"In fact, she is about to appear in the new Minder series on the ABC.
"I believe that the basic reason for the show's prolonged popularity is its very simple formula — a central character, the doctor, and a couple of companions travel around through time and space in a police box that's bigger on the inside than the outside.
"We have a completely open canvas upon which to paint. We are not restricted by permanently setting our stories in England.
"We can do historical, futuristic, and outer space stories.
"From the show's first episode in November, 1963, the only two things which survive are the police box and the signature tune.
"Some time back we were thinking about abolishing the box, but there was such a huge public outcry that we decided against the move.
"Two national newspapers ran a 'Save the Tardis' campaign and various schools throughout the country organized the signing of petitions in the street, to say nothing of the endless rude letters we received."
Captions:
Nicola Bryant is Peri (centre), with Maurice Denham (Edgeworp) and Colin Baker as Dr Who.
LEFT: A new monster, Gastropod. BELOW: Barry Stanton (Noma), Nicola Bryan (Peri), Oliver Smith (Drak).
Colin Baker is the new Dr Who, seen in Australia late-June.
Disclaimer: These citations are created on-the-fly using primitive parsing techniques. You should double-check all citations. Send feedback to whovian@cuttingsarchive.org
- APA 6th ed.: (1984-05-16). Australian censors Ban Dr Who. Star Enquirer p. 8.
- MLA 7th ed.: "Australian censors Ban Dr Who." Star Enquirer [add city] 1984-05-16, 8. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: "Australian censors Ban Dr Who." Star Enquirer, edition, sec., 1984-05-16
- Turabian: "Australian censors Ban Dr Who." Star Enquirer, 1984-05-16, section, 8 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Australian censors Ban Dr Who | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Australian_censors_Ban_Dr_Who | work=Star Enquirer | pages=8 | date=1984-05-16 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=28 March 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Australian censors Ban Dr Who | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Australian_censors_Ban_Dr_Who | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=28 March 2025}}</ref>
